A comprehensive guide of popular spots and hidden gems that every D.C. wonk should know

Welcome to AU, new Eagles! As you settle into your new home in the nation’s capital, put that U-pass to work and explore all that the city has to offer. We’re talking about museums, monuments, memorials, and that’s just the M’s. And don’t worry: The Metro isn’t as complicated as it seems.

Where to Visit First

These first few museum suggestions are kind of like prerequisite courses — you should visit them first to ease your way into D.C. museum culture. Each of these museums is either on or near the National Mall, which makes them popular with tourists and can be found easily via public transportation. Visits to these museums can also be tied in with a trip to all the monuments.

National Portrait Gallery

From the presidential portraits to an enormous electric map of the United States, the National Portrait Gallery is three floors of pure wonderment. See eye-to-eye with hundreds of famous figures in history as you amble through the art-covered halls. If you’re interested to see which portraits the gallery offers beforehand, you can search their database here.

Must-See: Former President Barack Obama and Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s portraits. All the presidential portraits are worth your time, but the Obamas’ portraits may just leave you awestruck.

Address: 8th St NW & F St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Directions: Take Metro’s Red, Green or Yellow lines to the Gallery Place-Chinatown stop

Hours: Monday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Admission: FREE

Galleries and Hidden Gems

The Renwick Gallery and the National Postal Museum are located at different metro stops than most of the other museums, but are worth the extra trip. The Hirshhorn can also be considered a hidden gem — some of its exhibits are so strangely captivating you’ll leave wondering what you saw and satisfied you went.

Renwick Gallery

Located within walking distance of the White House, the Renwick Gallery is an American art museum that offers engaging interactive exhibits such as “Ginny Ruffner: Reforestation of the Imagination” and more traditional art exhibits like “Michael Sherrill Retrospective.” Beyond looking at the gallery’s installed exhibits, take some time to just admire some of the small gems the gallery has to offer, like the twinkling lights hanging above the stairs in the center of the gallery.

Must-See: David Best’s Temple, an all-wooden temple. Visitors are encouraged to honor those they have lost in this exhibit. They may leave behind a written message on a piece of wood provided by the museum.

Must-See: Ron Mueck: Untitled (Big Man), a twice-life sized sculpture of a nude person slumped in a corner. At first glance, see the meticulous attention to detail, from the blemishes on his head to the veins beneath his skin. Look closer, and you may notice details that make him less realistic after all.

Address: Independence Ave SW &, 7th St SW, Washington, D.C. 20560

Directions: Take Metro’s Blue, Orange, Silver, Yellow or Green line to the L'Enfant Plaza stop

Hours: Monday-Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Admission: FREE

The Culture House

If you’re looking to add more color to your life (and your Instagram), check out the Culture House, sometimes also referred to as the Technicolor Church or the Blind Whino. What once was a church is now a renovated art gallery that features a variety of artists and art mediums, including some local D.C. artists. Go to the Culture House to be at the edge of where “community meets creativity,” but make sure you look at the calendar before you leave because it is only open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Must-See: A 360-degree look at the outside of the Culture House to be greeted by a rainbow explosion of color. If you can believe, this was once just a white building.

Must-See: Observe the intricacies of the statue, including the engravings of the scientist's greatest scientific contributions on the paper in his hand.

Address: 2101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20418

Directions: Take Metro’s Blue, Orange, Silver line to the Foggy Bottom stop

Hours: Open 24-hours

Admission: FREE

National Postal Museum

Though we live in the age of digital communication, there is still something fascinating about postage stamps and their history. At the National Postal Museum, discover the different ways mail has been moved over time while also admiring stamps from around the world. Learn more about which historical figures were stamp collectors – you might even consider becoming a stamp collector yourself.

Worth the Money

While most attractions in D.C. are free to the public, there are a few that charge. Don’t overlook these museums — many are still worthy of your attention and time.

Newseum

The Newseum is perfect for communication majors, news-fanatics and First-Amendment rights supporters alike. It features charming exhibits like “First Dogs” and somber exhibits like the “Journalist Memorial” Be ready to dedicate a few hours to explore because the seven floors of the Newseum are packed with information and artifacts you won’t want to miss. That said, you should make your trip sooner than later because the museum sold its current location to Johns Hopkins University and will be closing December 31, 2019.

Must-See: Pulitzer Prize Photographs Gallery. View over 1,000 award-winning photos both displayed in-person and virtually through the museum’s touchscreen galleries, including iconic photos such as “Old Glory Goes Up on Mount Suribachi.”

Address: 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Directions: Take Metro’s Red line to the Judiciary Square stop, or the Yellow or Green line to the Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter stop

There’s also a 15% off adult rate for journalists, military, teachers and college students with applicable ID.

International Spy Museum

Your next secret mission is to visit the International Spy Museum. Discover what exactly spies do in the “Spying Basics” exhibit and which spies have shaped history in the “Why Spy?” exhibit. Make sure you check-in at the Undercover Mission desk before you begin to explore the museum to play “spy” as you work your way through the exhibits. You then can be fully debriefed on your mission later that night online.

No matter which museums you choose to explore and fall in love with this Welcome Week, make sure you are getting out of your dorm and into the city. Four years go by faster than you think, so might as well make the most of them by immersing yourself in all that D.C. has to offer.